A Eugene mom, tired of the waste and tedious nature of packing lunches for her kids, has developed a lunchbox that she says is smart, colorful, environmentally friendly, durable and easy to clean.

"Lunchsense" lunchboxes are waterproof, easy to open and quick to clean, according to the company. Each lunchbox features a set of plastic containers that fit neatly together, and the lunchbox itself doubles as a fold-out placemat. The containers are dishwasher-safe and the lunchbox cleans up easily in the washing machine.

The lunchboxes do away with the need for plastic sandwich bags, and because the containers seal tight, it's easy to transport leftovers back home. Each lunchbox comes with an ice pack, and all three versions are BPA-free, lead-free, phthalate-free and vinyl-free.

The boxes come in three sizes and eight colors.

The idea for Lunchsense was born in 2006 when Nancy Owen Myers started looking for a more efficient means of packing her children's lunches. Like many parents, she was frustrated by the collection of mismatched plastic containers and lids that had piled up in her kitchen.

"I just knew there had to be a better way," she said. "After some trial and error, Lunchsense came into being.

"Now all I have to think about is the food," she said. "I don't have to worry about the containers, the box or the waste I might generate."